Category: Dailies

Guest Blogger: Jeff Larish

Fans, my name is Jeff Larish and I am guest blogging for this week.  I know most of you

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are probably disappointed because you have become accustom to my fellow teammate Zach Simons, but I thought I would give you another perspective.

This is my second year in the fall league and the second time around has been much more enjoyable for me, largely in part to the team’s success.  Last year my team was filled with great guys and great talent but we were the worst team in the league.  I think every player can confirm that it’s a lot more fun to be on a winning team.  

This years team has been doing just that, winning.  We have found a good balance of taking care of business and joking around at the same time.  The offense has been on fire at the plate, more than any team I’ve seen in pro ball.  It doesn’t matter who is in the lineup, everyone has been producing.  Our pitching has been solid as well.  We have a great group of coaches who have let us go out and be ourselves.  I have really enjoyed being apart of this group of guys. 

Personally I have come to the fall league to focus on two main things.  The first has been defensively at third base.  I have not consistently played third since my freshman year of college, so it has been very beneficial to get that game experience.  I am still trying to get used to reacting to balls and getting a good first step, but it is very encouraging because I get more comfortable with each game I play.  I am very appreciative my organization would give me an opportunity to gain this experience.

My other focus has been offensively and getting my lower half in a better position to hit.  In the past I have had the tendency to collapse on my back side.  This was not allowing me to be as consistent at the plate as I feel I’m capable of being.  I was fortunate to spend time in the major leagues this year and work with Lloyd McCllendon.  In working with him I was finally able to feel how to get in better position.  I always knew what I was doing wrong, but was not able to feel how to fix it.  I have been very fortunate to be in an organization with such a strong coaching staff from top to bottom.  I am working every day to get better and I feel like I am going in the right direction.

I hope this has given some insight to you fans.  Thank you for reading my guest blog.

Tigers Prospects Stats-Week 4

Hitters-

Will Rhymes- Is still swinging a hot stick with a .317 average and continues to make every play at 2nd base. 


Casper Wells- Has to lead the league in “HBP.” However, when he hasn’t got hit. Casper has skyrocketed his average to .286 and clubbed his 2nd home run just the other day. Also, defensively he has provided some quality assists by throwing guys out at the plate.  

By far the hottest Tiger hitter as of late is Jeff Larish. He started off a little slow but has moved his average up to a respectable .288 and has hit 3 home runs along with 19 RBIS. He hit one of his home runs today that might of landed in “Mexico.” Defensively he has been playing 1rst and 3rd and has played very well for the Solar Sox.

Pitching-

Casey Fien- One of the best pitchers in the league thus far. Casey has still not surrendered a run in the AFL. In 8 2/3 he has 9 strikeouts, along with no walks. Just “Casey being Casey.”

Rudy Darrow- Rudy has had a good past two weeks. Currently he is sporting a 2.45 e.r.a. through 7 1/3, along with 9 strikeouts. 
Luis Marte- “The Comeback Kid.” Has fired back with 2 great outings for us- Both outings in which he pitched 4 innings and also recording 14 k’s. 

Zach Simons- I have started to settle down since my forgettable 1rst outing. Tossing 5 scoreless since. 

Pitching Coach-

Ray Burris- Has provided some quality instruction out here. He also would like to give a shout out to “Nike” for providing him with some shiny new turfs. 
Burris Fact: The man can eat an entire pound of Vanilla Ice Cream in one day. INSANE!! 




Looooookout!!! Sox still on Roll- Week 4

Welcome Back Detroit!! Unreal!! That is all I have to say after watching the Solar Sox these past two weeks. The amount of runs we are scoring, and the quality pitching we have put up is “Out of this World”. The good news is- A big part of that production has been coming from your Tigers players. No “Sugar Coating,” here either fans. Check the box scores on this one. As a relief pitcher we are prone to sitting out in the bullpen and watching games until it is our turn to rev it up. I can’t tell you how many times, that I personally, have looked up and seen a “10 spot”( baseball lingo “meaning 10 runs”) on the scoreboard within the first few innings of the game. Are hitters absolutely “rake.” In the past two weeks I have already seen two cycles, and at times, feel as if I’m at a “Homerun Derby,” more or less than a AFL game. However, not only our hitting but our pitching has been getting it done as well. As are 3.92 team e.r.a. currently leads all AFL pitching staffs. 


I can’t really explain what is happening with this team. But we are truly meshing as we still are holding down 1rst place with a 14-6 record. That sums up week 4. Another amazing week for the Solar Sox. Shortly after this blog I will be updating you with your “Tigers,” stats. I look forward to your comments and questions.

Zach “Swig” Simons

Solar Sox hotter than the AZ sun!!! Week 3

Hello Fans, and welcome back to Week 3 of the AZL!! I’d first like to thank Casper Wells for being a guest blogger here earlier this week. Very well done, Casper. Also, it was announced earlier this week that Casper, along with Casey Fein, will be representing the Tigers in the “Rising Stars” game in Suprise, AZ, this Friday night. 


Running Wild!!! You could say Week 3, has been a good one for the Solar Sox.We are currently riding a 5 game winning streak and just took over 1rst place in our division today. Topping the Scottsdale Scorpions 11-3. Our own Luis Marte, took the hill today, and bounced back. Marte, only yielded one run on four hits while striking out eight over four innings, and picked up his 1rst win. If you have been following the box score as of late you will see that we have been absolutely tearing the cover off the ball and scoring a large amount of runs in the process. With week 3 almost gone, Will Rhymes continues to shine, as he has raised his average to a .364 clip, and seems to find a way on base everyday. “Rhymsie,” reminds me a little of David Eckstein. Although he is small in stature, the guy is a scrapper and will find a way to beat you. Well Other than scoring an “ungodly” amount of runs this week nothing else really went on. However, throughout the week I will be adding a few fun stories, interviews, etc, so stay tuned. Hopefully, it will provide a better understanding to just what is going on down here behind the scenes.

Thank you for the Comments from Week 2.

Zach “Swig” Simons

Welcome Back Tigers Fans! Week 2

Detroit Rock City, were are back and underway! Finishing up week 2 of the AFL now, and I would like to give you an update on Tigers prospects, as well as the Solar Sox. First, let me start by telling you it is a true honor to be out here honing my skills with some of the best prospects in minor league baseball. As the week has progressed, I really have got to grasp the talent that is here and it is unbelievable. The guys throw harder, hit the ball further, and overall are just the best that baseball has to offer. Getting to know my teammates from other organizations, we now are only in week 2, and I am having the time of my life. Each day brings a new experience, and I am thankful god has blessed me with the talent to compete at this level. However, enough blabbering, I know the Detroit faithful is ready for the update. 

After the first week I have been reassured that this league is going to be a challenge. Believe me when I tell you. If you do not keep the ball down here you will get hurt. As it showed in my first outing when I gave up 4 runs in 2 innings. Enough about that already. Remember as a relief pitcher you must have short-term memory. My last two outings have faired much better going 2 scoreless. Casey Fien has been absolutely dominant down here tossing 4 scoreless innings, while striking out 5. Watching Casey pitch, I personally believe it won’t be long before he takes his act to Comerica. Rudy Darrow has also thrown well down here. Only yielding 2 runs in 4 innings. However, after giving up 2, he fired back with 2 scoreless innings against Scottsdale. Luis Marte has struggled a bit in his first two outings. Taking the loss in his first start, but it’s only a matter of time before he gets back on track. 

Now to our Bashers!!! Jeff Larish has been taking some good swings down here. Watching him go about his day-to-day business, you kind of get a feel for what its like at the big league level. He is a true professional and a great hitter. Casper Wells is an absolute masher!! He has to put on one of the most impressive batting practices I’ve ever seen. Unlike most “BP Monsters,”however, Casper has a way of taking it into the game. As it showed when he took Max Scherzer deep in his first at bat on Opening Day. 2b Will Rhymes, has been the brightest star so far. Coming into today he is hitting .333, and has been making every play at 2b.

That sums of Week 2. Thank you for your questions and kind comments from week 1. I look forward to see what this week has to offer.

Go Tigers!!

Zach “Swig” Simons

Guest Blogger: Casper Wells

      Hello great fans of baseball! My name is Casper Wells, outfielder for the Detroit Tigers. I was asked to write a little something something on my experiences here in this HOT state of Arizona. Let me first start by saying that the “hotness” you are forced to deal with here is unlike the kind I have to deal with back in New York. I believe that I received an extra perspiration gene in my DNA sequence at birth which can be the only explanation for why I sweat so much.
About Me:
       I was born in Grand Rapids, MI where I stayed for about a year. Then my father’s work had my mother, father and I bouncing a bit until I found a more permanent stay in Schenectady, NY. It makes up one of the three cities of the Tri-City area of upstate New York. With about a 10 minute drive to Albany there’s always something fun to do. I grew up with both of my parents, Casper and Daiva, and three younger sisters, Paige, Lauren, and Livija. I attended Schenectady High School home of the Patriots. Some of our alumni include Pat Riley, head coach of the Miami Heat and Billy Connors, pitching coach for several major league teams. After high school, I became a member of the Towson University Tigers located in Towson, Maryland, about 10 minutes north of Baltimore. College was an incredible experience for me in the classroom, being a Television/Film Major, and on the baseball field. I keep in contact with all of my coaches as well as friends who are supporting me in my journey throughout my professional baseball career. 
      In 2005 all of my dreams came true when I became a member of the Detroit Tigers by being selected in the 14th round of the draft. Heading down to Lakeland, FL for a post-draft camp I didn’t know what to expect. Well, much like what i was expecting upon arrival in Arizona, I knew I was going to go 12 rounds in the ring with the sun and get knocked out pretty quickly, so, I prepared by drinking plenty of H2O and staying hydrated. My first year put me in the Gulf Coast League. Followed up by back to back years in the New York-Penn League playing for the Oneonta Tigers, which was only about an hour from my house, so I had lots of support from my family and friends. This year I broke spring training camp and was placed in the Midwest League on the West Michigan Whitecaps, in Grand Rapids, MI. It’s ironic how I ended up in a place I was born 22 years later to play the sport I love. When fans came to the game they were surprised that they have never heard of me because it says I was born there. Well, most of them didn’t realize I only lived there for a year.  Then About halfway through the year I was lucky enough to land a spot with the Erie Seawolves of the Eastern League. It took a couple stutter steps to get the wheels churning at first but I was able to finish the season strong enough to be asked to come to the Arizona Fall League. 
            
AFL:
          It’s always a bit awkward at first when you would arrive on a team where you only know a handful of guys. You walk into the clubhouse and it’s like that scene in Anchorman where all the news teams assemble in the alley. The only difference is that none of the news teams are enemies in the clubhouse. I mean you have Ron Burgundy and the channel 5 news team and you have spanish language news team, all sitting around eyeing each other up. Then of course the ice is broken, people introduce where they’re from, etc., and day after day of practicing with these guys you feel more comfortable. The “characters” on the team start to show, jokes are cracked, it loosens up and you feel the chemistry of the team start to come together. There are a great group of guys on this Mesa Solar Sox team made up of the Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Detroit Tigers. With manager Rocket Wheeler, hitting coach Ryne Sandberg and pitching coach Ray Burris, this fall is shaping up to be an incredible experience and a very enjoyable one which I am blessed to be a part of. So hold up your glass and let’s make a toast to good things yet to come!
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Zach Simons – An Introduction

Greetings Motor City fans, from the Arizona Fall League home of the Mesa Solar Sox. First off, let me start by introducing myself. My name is Zach Simons and I have been blessed with the opportunity of being the official blogger for the Detroit Tigers here at the Arizona Fall League. Throughout the next two months, I look forward to answering your questions and giving you game-to-game updates on Tigers prospects who are playing here. Before I tell you a little about myself, I would like to let you know who else will be representing the Tigers in the AFL. Beside me, the Tigers have selected three pitchers — Casey Fien, Rudy Darrow, and Louis Marte, along with three hitters — Jeff Larish, Casper Wells, and Will Rhymes.

 

My Journey to the AFL:

I was born and raised in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, a small farming community in Southern Idaho.  In a town that small, I guess the only thing you can live and breathe for is sports. With a population of 1,600 and only one blinking stoplight, it is the definition of “small town America”. It is a prominent football town well known for producing state championship football teams.  Heck, baseball wouldn’t have even become a sport there in 1995 if it wasn’t for one man, my high school coach, Dennis Uhl.  As a three sport athlete in high school, I was fortunate enough to be drafted in the 38th round by the Oakland A’s. I decided to hold off on my dream of professional baseball to attend Everett Community College in Washington. After playing two years at EVCC, everything I worked for became a reality when I was taken by the Colorado Rockies in the second round of the 2005 Draft. As a 19-year-old kid, I was excited to start my career at the professional level and begin the ultimate journey and “dream” of playing in the big leagues. Now in my fourth pro season, I can say my career truly has been rollar coaster ride.  On April 30, 2008, I was traded to the Detroit Tigers for RHP Jason Grilli. Leaving all the friends I had made with the Rockies, I was sent to Lakeland, Fla., the high-A affiliate of the Tigers. There, I was primarily used as a setup man and was fortunate enough to put together a fine season. With a week left in the schedule, I found out that I was going to represent the Tigers in the AFL. You can say that I was a little PUMPED!

Now, on Oct. 1, I find myself walking into a clubhouse that will house the future stars of five different teams. Row after row of jerseys, you begin to see some of the finest prospects in Minor League Baseball and even some that have already played in the “bigs”. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to grasp the feeling I had when I first got there. It definitely is something I will cherish until the day I die. Well, I guess I better cut this off now.  It’s time to lace up the spikes and get ready for practice.  AFL Opening Day is Oct. 7. GO TIGERS!!!

Reliever Zach “Swig” Simons